Biotechnological Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites

Modern techniques have been developed to overcome problems associated with the extraction of natural products from plants. These techniques include production of secondary metabolites by biotechnological methods such as plant tissue culture and microbial biotransformation of natural substances. Such methods have led to an increased yield of secondary metabolite amount, the discovery of new biochemical derivatives and agricultural development. For instance, use of these techniques in agricultural area have led to some beneficial traits such as formation of new varieties of known plant species, better crop quality, higher yield, better nutritive properties, more resistant species to insects and pests. Microbial biotransformation is beneficial in plant secondary metabolite production and derivatization (chemical modification of any compound made by a microorganism) and is chiefly applicable to several varieties of terpenes and steroids. This E-book demonstrates recent developments in this field. It will be of particular interest to the professionals in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, as well as natural product chemists, medicinal chemists, plant biochemists, and molecular biologists.

The Effects of Pesticides on Plant Secondary Metabolites

Pp. 176-186 (11)

Monica Hancianu and Ana C. Aprotosoaie

Abstract

The controlled and uncontrolled use of pesticides along with unquestionable benefits can also
affect other living organisms, including human beings and plant metabolism by causing abiotic stress in
plants. Because possible effects on plants secondary metabolites are largely unknown, most researches focus
on the influence of pesticides, their metabolism products, and residues on human health and environment.
Other currently available data is related to effects of herbicides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators on
phenylpropanoid and derived flavonoid metabolites as well as terpenoid metabolism.

Pesticides may influence levels of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids,
anthocyanins, tropane alkaloids, and volatile terpenoids by non-specific mechanisms or interfering the key
biosynthesis steps. The quality of volatile oils can be altered by changing their chemical composition,
especially the toxic or useful constituents. Moreover, pesticide residues can be solubilised in volatile oils.
Also, pesticides are able to modulate plant metabolism affecting assimilation rate of micronutrients.

The complete assesment of plants exposed to pesticides requires knowledge of the biochemical and
physiological responses of vegetal organisms to these substances in order to understand the magnitude
of the agrochemicals action, but also for the rational engineering of plant secondary metabolites.